Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
Sam's brother died by suicide. His father died the same way.
The grief was isolating and stigmatizing.
At first, Sam didn't want to talk about it.
"What inspired me to reach out for support was witnessing the struggles of those around me who weren't getting any," he said. "And my own journey through depression made me realize the importance of speaking with someone."
Sam's decision may have saved his life
Survivors grieving a loved one's suicide are at greater risk of suicide themselves.
Half of patients who die by suicide – including Sam's dad and brother – have no formal mental health diagnosis.
That's why Intermountain Health experts say it's important to learn how to spot the signs of suicide risk.
If you're experiencing risks yourself, or you've been affected by a loved one's death by suicide, you're not alone. Help is available.
"Suicide is something that impacts all of us, whether we have lost a loved one to suicide, been a listening ear for someone in a dark place, or have been in that place ourselves," said Mason Turner, MD, senior medical director of behavioral health clinical programs at Intermountain Health.
Intermountain Health is expanding behavioral health services to help meet a growing need.
This includes Connect Care for Behavioral Health and the Behavioral Health Services Navigation Line, available throughout the state.
For more acute needs, Behavioral Health Access Centers are available at Intermountain LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden, and Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital.
Intermountain Children's Health is also expanding mental health services for children and teens in crisis at the new Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital Behavioral Health Center-Taylorsville Campus, which opened earlier this month and includes a Crisis Walk-in Center.
These expanded resources give people more options to get the help they need. But it's also important to remember these three words – Know, Help, Heal – so you can recognize and respond to people who may be at risk for suicide.
Know
Know what to look for in yourself and those around you. Check-in with yourself, check-in with others, and know the risk factors and warning signs:
- Changes in behavior or mood.
- Recent rejection or divorce.
- Giving away belongings.
- Increased use of alcohol or drugs.
- Talking about death, hopelessness, or being a burden to others.
- Financial loss or instability.
If you think someone might be considering suicide, try asking these questions:
- "It seems like something is up. Want to talk about it?"
- "I noticed you have been more withdrawn. Are you doing okay?"
- "Have you had thoughts of suicide?"
"Asking questions can seem awkward, but asking direct questions can actually reduce suicide risk," Dr. Turner said. "Be open to helping the person access resources should they respond that they are feeling unsafe."
Help
Help yourself and others. If someone is in crisis, you can:
- Call 911.
- Call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline.
For other needs, call the Intermountain Health Behavioral Health Navigation Services at 833-442-2211 to identify resources near you.
Kids and teens can access the Crisis Walk-in Center at the new Primary Children's Behavioral Health Center in Taylorsville, which is always open.
The center also has patient rooms where parents can stay overnight with their child.
Parents and guardians can:
- Call the statewide Assessment, Referral, Consultation Service at 385-478-2400 to find behavioral health resources for their children, schedule an appointment, and more.
- Call 988 or use the SafeUT app to access free Stabilization and Mobile Response program, which sends a professional to your home to help your child or teen.
Also, have the courage to help yourself by accessing resources or practicing self-care.
Heal
If you are impacted by a death by suicide, you are not alone. Intermountain Health has people and resources that can help you cope following a loss.
"One of the things you learn in counseling and peer support is that there's more to your loved ones than what they did at the end. There's a whole history behind them," Sam said. "You learn to ask open-ended questions, 'Tell me about your best vacation with your dad,' and things like that, so the focus is on their life rather than their death."
Sam says that when he talks about his loved ones, people often respond with a story of their own.
"It's very easy to come out of these situations and think, no one else has had this happen to them. They don't understand," he said. "When you talk about it, you see how it touches so many people, and you know you're not alone."
To learn more about Intermountain Health behavioral health resources, visit intermountainhealth.org/behavioralhealth or primarychildrens.org/behavioralhealth for children and teens.
If you or a loved one is looking for mental well-being help, contact Intermountain's free Behavioral Health Navigation Line at 833-442-2211. If someone is in danger of hurting themselves, contact the National Suicide Lifeline at 988, or dial 911.
